IY CHRIS nun (Iraberyrmg‘ com Wouldn’t it be wondrous if there was a machine that coqu make us healthier. happier. site! and enhance our well~being. mused keynote speaker Ric Young at the laundlofdeakingEndsMcetinYork Region “'pmject at Marmam "meat": Thes- day. ' Addressing the blue ribbon audience. comprising members of the region's human planning board. social service administrators. politicians and anti-poverty advocates. Mt. Young illuminated the host board’s mission in timely fashion. “M alnady have it." the founder of E-Y-E I'I‘heSacial ProkctsStudio. said. “It'scalled community." A social mm puma. Mr. Young endorsed the. W yearold board'smMat‘etoedmmeemcflve- ness and My ofhunm cubes in YorkRegionWaflabmnflvcadvocaq. lhawiï¬gOnpechobenmmm.minflu- ential American academic and author of AudnorRichungspeabnlhchunchoankhlghxdsthYmkRagion‘mad-y. Waiting a few poised beats. the author of Getting 7b Maybr answede his own ques- tinn. App riately, his messagc. deliveted on lheï¬rstr omemmspokeofhwhope blooms when communities work collabora- u‘velytohelpthoaelnflnmddmed. Environment dictates our well-being: author ‘ Hope blooms when communities work together to help those in need Mnnghcdiscusseddleimponnnce ofsocialapital Cloudy related to what many call civic virtue. social capital refers to connections among individuals. social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthineu that arise from them. In other words. wuunmlfles In which everyone! welfare. partlczflady those at risk. is a priority are healthier places to live. 'Our environment dictates our well- being'hesaid.“01fldtcnandyouth bornin dueswixhhigh social capitaldomlulba- tel. When there’s low social capital. mate's hm crime ram 1n communities where people are sodafly disconnected. thew: at a two to ER time higher risk of dying than mmhmwpponf With nmmdnn, halfthe wond'spopub donflvhginmdalsityclï¬esit'shpaa- ï¬ve cities the innovative «ï¬ne of the city he a genius?" “It's not the problems that deï¬ne York Region. Rather, it’s your response to the challenge." 51A" WWWV! $OIHMI‘ E ‘You’re taking on signiï¬cant problems together.†he said "You're people who care deepty and work together meaningfully. You're building bridgeg, not silos You're har- nessingtheeneryandassetsofmecom- munity hr positive purpose: M3 the and thread that connects York Repon to pk. like Bogota and Hariem. . “it's net the problems that deï¬ne \brit Regan. ‘ Rather. it's your response to the chalicngo'lbhave hope.yoummtbecham- pions ofhopej’ I , Theevemstmckachordwithattendea. “It‘s exciting to see a group of leader: looking at issues that are important to indi- viduah and ways to make change happen.’ \htk Region Community Found» don executive Direaor Gina Ibsen said. Citing examples of how globe! communi- ties rallied resources and adjusted collective attitude, his mm was yes. Devastatedbyawo? tornado. theimptw- erished 777 people of Greensbng Kansas. committed to rebuilding and making their city the greatest in the United States Today. like-mm m .' ' administrators conâ€" sult Greemburgum. York Region District School Board edu- cation MOI Ken Thurston deemed the planning board a great. collaborative iniâ€" 11w relevance to York Region is strong. MLYoungsald. beau! a! 03 And-non w, W on We! comevolHighww 47 and Yodx bud-om NWdWNW. Ween déndfy huhmd h‘mm You mnmochow lbfltht 50‘“ 0‘5:- dlmiydmm C 1-800 "5â€" bnwsbmcom YOU CAN NOW PICK-IF AT OUR NEW LOCATDN I’M LI-Ho‘ m‘m '~ Planning board co-chairpersun and Waste! Regional Councillor 301m ‘l‘aylur W a pmel discussion ma: "included been! member spot] service agcmy admin- m M still much to be done," he said. “m the curve is We moving a huge ham We need a lot of people pushing W We'll be mccessful if our commu- nities and agencies work together. ’lhat’s the power of many.“ "\M: help the people the board is look- ing to support." she said. “It's a wonderful step brwanl I found it mtereslmg we heard about, hope and wllabomtiou That's very positive." Nomproï¬l Thnsit Georgina executive dill:ch Cathy Wilkinson was buoyed by the board's mission. native. Turning the curve is like moving a huge boulder. We need a lot of people pushing together. We'll be successful zfour communities and together. That's the J many.’ STOUFFVILLEIUXBRIDGE MG? 8821 Weston Road Woodbndge. ON. L4L 1A6 63 Anderson Boulevard Uxbndoe. ON L9P OC7 WOODBRIDGE Mammary